Safety windshield



July 1923. 1,461,237

R. H. WEST SAFETY WINDSHIELD Q Original Filed March 19. 1921 v 2Sheets-Sheet 1 TTORN E Y.

July 10,1923. 1 ,461,237

' R. H. WEST SAFETY WINDSHIELD Original Filed March 19. 1921 2Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 10, 1923.

'RALPHVIH'FWESIU'QOF BAY'oIrY, MICHIGAN.

- snrETv wINnsnIELn.

Application filed March .19," 1921, Serial No. 453,562. Renewed May 24,-1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatL-RALPH WEST, a citizen of the United States of America,ref siding at Bay. City, inthe county-of Bay and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Windshields,ofrwhich the following is, a

specification. I

This invention relates to safety windshields. 1-

One object of the invention .is to design a windshield which willautomatically swing upwardly and remain in open-positionwhenfthe-rvehiclestrikes any obstacle or object with, suificient forceto throw the driver or occupants thereof the prime object of myinvention, to prevent the cutting of the occupantswhen this occurs. V 7Another object" of'the invention is to so design the wind-shield'thatits general .appearance will be substantially the same "as theconventional wind-shield now in general use: A further object is toprovide a'wind shield embodying the abovefeatures which will operate inexactly the same manner as the wind-shields-now 1n general use, thesectionsbeing opened or' closed as desired in exactly the same manner.

With the above and other objects in view the present invention consistsin the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes maybe made in the form, size, proportion and minor detailsof construction,without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any 'of'the advantagesof the invention.

Inthe drawings'; V a Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front view of awindshield-embodying :the present invention.

- Fig. 2 is an'edge view thereof.

Fig, 3 is an enlarged' sectional view of the pivoting mechanism. l Fig.ais a section taken on the-line 4+4 ofFig.1." Fig. 5 is a section takenon'the line 5-5 0fFig."1.- v I Fig. 6 is an isometric view" of theratcheting means. I I

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sideview of an" V automobile showing-in dottedlines the wind- V shield in raised position.

Fig. Sis an enlarged end view of the l I wind-shield frame illustratingtions are partiallyraisedvhow the sec Fig; 9 is an isometric detail viewbi the ings,.in which I have indicatedfthe w-indi shieldframe oresupportby the-numeral 1, this is of the usual typeand is rigidly secured to thebody 2 of the: car,;it is also p,r o vided with the knob projection 3 towhich the top ciisse'cured in the usual'manner'. through thewindshield-glass, and this is this tubular member 7, .said end beingsee. cured: to the top section of the wind-shield 9 in any approvedmanneniallocknut and washer: 10 and 11" respectively being carried onthe other endof the bolt and a nut 12 being 'provided'to allowforsuitable adjust ment to provide suitable friction to'pre-vent thesection swinging in and out, excepting when forced-by the driver. a 1

The lower section of the wind-shieldis, pivoted to the auxiliaryframe.by means of a similar bolt 13 extending through a suitablebpening inthe auxiliary frame,"and it will be apparent that both the upper andlower sections of the wind-shield can. be", swung in and out as desired.To prevent chucking or :lateral vibration I have-provideda rubber l terthe-like which I secure to the main frame as shown, and for securing theauxiliary-frame .in

which are secured to the frame lgandwhich .A; bolt member ShaVing an iengage and exert a tension on the auxiliary frame, the lip of "theseclips being turned outwardlyto allow the auxiliary frame to springin andout of closed'position'. V v Both' of these frames can be ofany approvedcross section, and in. this instance I l have shown the mainframe formed 'of ob-' long-cross section whlle the aux l ary frame 18 of:angular cross section and is provided with a rubber strip 16 securedthereto, one surface being rounded for nesting the edge of thewind-shield proper against it. y

The member 6 is preferably formed with a circular depressed recess 17which is adapted to receive the raised portion of the frame 1 in amanner to be hereinafter de scribed, the base of the laterally extendingportion 7 being tapered as clearly indicated at 18 in Fig. 6 of thedrawings. A plurality of teeth 19 are formed in the upper face and onthe outer edge of this member 6 and a stop portion 20 projects from theupper surface and is also formed integral therewith. The frame 1 isformed with, raised portions or bosses 21 which are provided withcircular recessed portions 22 adapted to form a ball race for receivingantifriction balls 23, to assure the smooth operation of the device, theinner balls riding on the tapered portion 18 of the member 6 while theouter balls ride on a similarly tapered portion of a cap member 2 1which is threaded on the portion 7 of the member 6, a lock nut andwasher 25 and 26 respectively being also threaded thereon for adjustingand holding the several parts in proper position.

A boss 27 is also formed integral with the member 1 and is provided withan opening.

28 therethrough, in which a latch member 29 is seated, this latch memberis provided with apin 30 extending through a trans versely disposedopening therein, the inner end having an enlarged shank 31 cut as shown,one side being tapered and the opposite side being straight to form ajaw, the inner end of this opening 28 is recessed to accommodate aspring member 32 which is adapted to surround the pin or latch member29, one end butting against the shoulder in the opening and the oppositeendbearing against the shank of the latch normally tending to forcethemember 29 against the teeth formed in the member 6, the tapered edgeextending in substantially the same plane as the teeth, being preventedfrom rotation by the pin 30 resting in slots formed in the boss toaccommodate it, and in practice I turn the end of the boss 27 and fit ametal cap 27 thereto, the pin 30 extending through suitable openings inthe cap and a washer may be inserted as shown, and when the auxiliaryframe is swung upwardly by striking any obstacle with sufficient force,the latch will ratchet over the teeth 20 and the straight edge thereofwill engage the straight edge of the teeth and prevent its swinging backto original position.

It will of course be obvious that the auxiliary frame will swing up withconsiderable force and I therefore provide a cushioning element whichconsists of flat steel resilient strip 33 secured to the raised boss 34of the frame 1 by means of screws, 35 or the like,

teeth 19, the pin 30 being rotated until it rests on the. outer surfacof the boss 27 and the frame is then free to swing back to its originalclosed position. While I have shown but one edge of the windshield itwill be understood that both edges are equipped identically alike.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I have perfecteda very simple and effective safety wind-shield, which will automaticallyswing upwardly and be held in raised position when the vehicle strikesany obstacle with sufficient force to throw the occupants through thewind-shield.

What I claim is z? 1. A safety wind-shield comprising a frame, anauxiliary frame pivotally connected thereto, frictional means fornormally holding the said frame in closed position, and a ratchetingelement for holding the said frame in raised position when swungoutwardly by inertia.

2. A safety wind-shield comprising a main frame, an auxiliary framepivotally connected thereto, resilient means mounted on the mainframeand frictionally engaging the said auxiliary frame for holding itin closed position, a ratchet element rigid on the auxiliary frame,and'a spring actuated dog adapted to engage said ratchet ele ment forholding said frame in raised position when swung outwardly by inertia.

3. A safety wind-shield comprising a main frame, an auxiliary framepivotally connected thereto, means for normally holding said frameagainst movement with relation to the main frame, a ratchet rigid on theauxiliary frame and a stop integral therewith, a spring actuated dogmounted on the main frame and adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchetfor holding the said frame in raised position, and a resilient memberrigid on the-main frame and adapted to engage the stop for limiting theup-- ward movement of the saidv auxiliary frame.

a. A safety wind shield comprising a main frame, anauxiliary framepivotally connected thereto, wind-shield sections frietionally andpivotallymounted in the auxiliary frame, spring clips rigid on the mainframe and detachab-ly engaging the: auxiliary frame for holding it,in'closed position, a ratchet having a stop integral. there.- with rigidon the. auxiliary frame, and a spring actuated dog mounted on the mainframe for holding the said frame. ad-

justed positions, a resilient member rigid onv the main frame andadapted to engage the stop for' cushioning and limiting the movement ofthe auxiliary frame when swung upwardly by inertia. r

V ,5. A safety wind-shield comprising a being pivotally and frictionallymounted therein, a stop integral with the said ratchet element and aspring actuated dog mounted in the main frame and engaging the saidratchet, a resilient member extending from the main frame for cushioningand. limiting the upward movement of the said frame when swung upwardlyby inertia, and means for'releasing the said mechanism. V

6. A' safety wind-shield comprising a frame having an auxiliary framemounted therein and spaced from the edges a'distance suificienttoreceivethe usual storm curtains, spring clips on the main frame for engagingthe auxiliary frameffor holding it ,in normal position, aratchetel'ement mounted V on the auxiliary frame and having a hollowlaterally extending tubular member pivotally'mounted in the mainframe, abolt 30 F seated in this tubular portion-for pivotally mounting theupper wind-shield'section, and, ,a spring actuated latch mounted in themain frame and adapted to; engage the ratchet teeth, a stop integralwith the -ratchetxele-' ment for limiting the upward movement of theframe, and means for releasing the said latch to allow the auxiliaryframeto swing to its original position.

RALPH H wEsT'.

Intestimony whereof, I aflix mysig'najture. V I 1 V .3

